Hi there - I’m Reed. I’m a disabled trans person from the US living in London. This year, two major events are happening in my life: I’m finishing my PhD and turning 30! I need help to make sure I reach these milestones on good footing: I am asking for help covering the costs of my Graduate Visa so that I can stay with my community and maintain access to my hard-won medical care in the UK.

Both of these events are massive personal accomplishments. At the risk of being too vulnerable, I never thought I’d make it to 20, let alone 30. To be 10 years older, 6 years into my medical transition, and finishing my PhD feels unreal.

Yet, it also feels enormously frightening. As a working class trans person finishing a self-funded PhD on race, cities, and prison abolition, I’m honestly afraid of what going back to the US would mean for me. I’m afraid of being unable to afford the various medications that make my life possible. I’m worried about whether or not I would even be prescribed my HRT or my psychiatric medications. But I am also afraid of how to find my footing as a working professional in the UK during a cost of living crisis in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Getting financial support from my communities to help me apply for a new visa would give me, roughly, two months’ income back while I apply for jobs and - if necessary - complete any corrections needed to my PhD.

Here is the cost breakdown for my visa application:

This is the estimated cost before any expedited services. I am hoping this is the final cost of my visa and I will not have to update this total, but I acknowledge that a PhD is somewhat of a moving target. I may need more time to do corrections, there may be issues arranging a viva at the end of the year, or a host of any other issues that might require me filing for an extension of my existing visa and could cause an increase of my fundraising needs.

As anyone close to me knows, I hate asking for help. Especially financial help, and especially when there are so many causes and others in need at the moment. If you’re able to help, I will be unspeakably grateful for the rest of my life. I have survived on the radical generosity and solidarity of my communities, and I am endlessly thankful for being held in this way by chosen family, friends, comrades, and allies.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Care & solidarity,

Reed